Battle for control of encryption technology

The two sides in the conflict for encryption control are described. In the first camp are law-enforcement and intelligence agencies-the National Security Agency and the FBI-who wish to use wire surveillance as a tool to combat crime, primarily narcotics, but also industrial espionage and anything that threatens national security. In the second camp are the computer and telephone companies that must comply with any new legal requirements. Efforts to stop the widespread use of encryption dating back to the 1970s, when expertise in encryption expanded beyond US intelligence agencies and law-enforcement agencies began to see the need to assert their control of public encryption, are discussed. Current legislative and administrative efforts to limit further advances in encryption technology are also discussed.<
>